16 發光的城市 A R O U N D T O W N FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2009 • TAIPEI TIMES

Director Boris Quercia’s ‘Sex With Love’ is rough around the edges, but with so much sex, in so many different ways, and so much laughter, it’s hard to dislike

By Ian Bartholomew Staff Reporter

Chilean spice

as the children. The couples who Almodovar meet in the class discussion group Other releases meets the Carry On gang gives all have their own romantic and some idea as to the character of sexual problems, not least Luisa Compiled by Martin Williams this rough diamond of a Chilean herself, who is two-timing her artist flick that was first released in boyfriend with the much older Detroit Metal City 2003 and which has found its way Jorge, a prominent sexologist and We’ve all heard stories of circuitously through several minor the father of one of her students. professional musicians who film festivals to Taiwan. The set up is obviously pay their dues performing Lovely young schoolteacher absurd from the get go, but the music they can’t stand. This Luisa is eager to introduce sex rumbustious and raunchy delight manga adaptation from Japan education into her classes of that director Boris Quercia  Photos courtesy of cineplex takes this predicament to the youngsters and so brings parents dives into the project carries the wackiest level, as a good- together to discuss this project. audience along. And quite apart has heart. On the fringes of the to linger lovingly (and lustfully) over Although the cinematography natured rural boy with a thing for easy listening finds It turns out that the adults are in from the sex, and there is a lot of sexual comedy are the children buttocks, crotches and cleavages is a little rough and ready and the himself forced to retain the identity of a death metal icon need of sex education as much it, Sex With Love (Sexo con Amor) (Luisa’s students), who stand as of an absolutely gorgeous cast of narrative almost falls apart under caked with gothic makeup after his titular band DMC a constant reminder of what may women, but never airbrushes away the strain of so many couples have hits pay dirt. This feverish metal revisiting of the Mrs happen when adult lust gets out the imperfections, from moles, to so much sex in so many different Doubtfire theme has had audiences in stitches on both of hand. body hair, to pubic crabs. ways, Sexo With Love has more sides of the Pacific. And yes, if the title weren’t already a Quercia doesn’t try to make Both men and woman are than its share of laugh-out-loud giveaway, Gene Simmons makes a late appearance. any big points, but is happy to observed with a cool eye for moments, and it is this raucous Sex With Love (Sexo con amor) explore sex as something that can comedy, and the director puts comedy, though neither subtle or be both wonderful, especially when himself right in the firing line even particularly original, but full Suite Dreams Directed by: Boris Quercia mixed with a modicum of love, or playing Emilio, a grumpy butcher of joy, that drives the film forward. The release of director Koki hilarious, when lust appears as a whose frantic lovemaking has all A brilliant soundtrack, a Mitani’s The Magic Hour two Starring: Sigrid Alegria (Luisa), Alvaro Rudolphy (Alvaro), Patricio Contreras (Jorge), Maria Izquierdo (Maca), Boris Quercia (Emilio) ridiculous bug-eyed and salivating but made his wife frigid. A scene strangely evocative coupling of weeks ago allows this handsome, monster. There is a refreshing involving a spin-dryer was one of disco and grunge by the Alvaro impressive Japanese comedy from Language: In Spanish with Chinese subtitles frankness in dealing both with the many that had the audience at the Henriquez-fronted Chilean rock three years ago to hit Taiwanese beauty and ugliness of the human press screening almost falling out band Pettinellis, works particularly theaters. The scene is a large hotel, Taiwan release: Today body, as Querica allows his camera of their seats with laughter. well and is an additional pleasure. the time is New Year’s Eve, and the players are a bunch of powerful and/or eccentric guests and staff. Mitani respects his characters and how they interact, and the result is a wide and detailed canvas of hilarity and drama that has delighted critics And the rest, as they say, is history and audiences. 700 Days of Battle: Us vs the With ‘Red Cliff 2,’ John Woo solidifies his position as one of Chinese-language cinema’s most successful directors Police Another Japanese release, but By Ho Yi viewers. Woo defines and develops a polar opposite in terms of Staff Reporter the characters, especially the two sophistication. Based on part of a Six months after the Asian release female roles played by China’s “hit” blog serial (as measured by of the first segment of his epic Zhao Wei and Taiwan’s Lin Chi- Web site hits, presumably), 700 diptych, John Woo (吳宇森) returns Red Cliff 2 ling, who are accorded significant Days proceeds through a litany of to the big screen with Red Cliff 2 (赤壁：決戰天下) narrative weight, in contrast to comical clashes between some high (赤壁:決戰天下). Featuring moments their more decorative function in school friends and a cop. Broad and of high drama, exciting action the first part. family-friendly, this is recommended Directed by: John Woo (吳宇森) sequences and an arresting story Woo’s interpretation of the for anyone who thinks youthful rebellion only ends with a about brotherhood, bravery and Starring: Tony Leung Chiu- legendary figures is unconventional pie in the face of authority rather than drug addiction or a romance, the blockbuster further wai (梁朝偉) as Zhou Yu, Takeshi but works well within the director’s debilitating police record. cements Woo’s triumphal return Kaneshiro (金城武) as Zhuge Liang, focus on loyalty and brotherhood. to Chinese-language cinema after The vernacular language spoken Zhang Fengyi (張豐毅) as Cao Cao, Memory a long hiatus in Hollywood where Chang Chen (張震) as Sun Quan, Lin by Woo’s characters may lack the director never managed to Chi-ling (林志玲) as Xiao Qiao, Zhao gravitas, but it gives the film a With Billy Zane, Dennis Hopper live up to the promise of his Hong Wei (趙薇) as Sun Shangxiang, Hu distinct charm and vitality. and Ann-Margret in a movie, Kong oeuvre. Jun (胡軍) as Zhao Yun, Nakamura The final battle scenes are gran- there should be something After a brief recap of what took Shido as Gan Xing diose, but the denouement is a tad for everyone, but the reaction place in the previous installment, For director John Woo, the two superb installments of Red Cliff are enough to overcome a flabby as military pageantry, martial to this little-seen chiller from the audience is thrown back disappointing stint in Hollywood. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox, Taiwan Running time: 113 minutes arts sequences and close-ups of the 2006 was less than generous. into the battlefield action where heroes and villains’ grimacing faces Zane is afflicted with “memories” that may or may not have Cao Cao’s (Zhang Fengyi, 張豐毅) to his advantage by rafting the of Sun Quan and Liu Bei and Language: In Mandarin with grow stale after several reprises. been his own. One would hope not, seeing as they included troops play a game of cuju (蹴鞠), infected corpses over to Sun’s heralding the beginning of China’s English subtitles China’s Zhang Fengyi is the abducting and killing kids. The response to this potentially an ancient Asian kind of football, camp. Three Kingdoms period and, surprise star of the film. More horrifying scenario seems to have largely focused on the as they wait for the battle of Red A battle of wits ensues. Zhou ultimately, the reunification of the Taiwan release: Currently than simply the power-hungry viability of Zane’s hair and why the market forgot to send showing Cliff to start. In an inconspicuous Yu (Tony Leung Chiu-wai, 梁 country under the Jin Dynasty. villain as depicted in Romance of it straight to DVD. That forgetfulness now extends to the corner, warlord Sun Quan’s 朝偉) successfully spreads fear It is never easy to tackle a legend the Three Kingdoms, his Cao Cao Taiwanese market. (Chang Chen, 張震) spirited sister and confusion among the enemy that has long been popularized and drama with Woo-esque is an emotionally complex and Sun Shangxiang (Zhao Wei, 趙薇), forces by false information. In and romanticized in countless romanticism. charismatic leader who blushes disguised as an enemy soldier, the meantime, Zhuge Liang draws textbooks, television series, video Maintaining the fast pace before the woman he loves. Tony The Gig sends information about the on his familiarity with the local games and comic books, not to of the first installment of Red Leung Chiu-wai is as dependable Another promotion for TiVo product enemy’s position by carrier pigeon weather and tactical expertise to mention the 120-chapter Romance Cliff — Parts 1 and 2 are being as ever in his role as the composed makes its way to Taipei’s Baixue to Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro, steal weapons supplies from Cao of the Three Kingdoms (三國演 shown in a single, condensed Zhou Yu, while Takeshi Kaneshiro theater in Ximending. The shadow 金城武). Cao’s troops. 義), one of the four great classical version outside East Asia — the engages attention as the slightly of Porky’s looms large as a bunch The news encourages Sun As a strong wind blows, both novels of Chinese literature (四大名 second installment smoothly effete strategist. of Thai college friends set about Quan’s coalition forces, which are sides ready for a battle to the death. 著). Audiences already have their shifts between action sequences, Given more to do this time capturing the girls of their wet formulating plans to defeat Cao Meanwhile, Zhou Yu’s beautiful own ideas about the events and battle planning and anecdotes around than in the first part, dreams by forming a group called Cao’s vastly superior force across wife Xiao Qiao (Lin Chi-ling, 林志玲) characters. But though Red Cliff that flesh out the main characters, supermodel-turned-actress Lin “The Gig.” The first rule in associating the bay. Typhoid has broken out ventures into Cao Cao’s camp alone is not immune to criticism, the adding extra layers to what exhibits sufficient gumption to carry with women, so the newspaper ad in Cao Cao’s camp, causing heavy in an attempt to use her diplomatic screenwriters have successfully might otherwise have been a off her part as Xiao Qiao. Taiwan’s sagely tells us, is “don’t fall in love casualties. But it doesn’t take long skills to prevent further carnage. condensed the richness of history cumbersome epic. Everything Chang Chen, however, underwhelms with the girl you’re banging.” Got that straight? This 2006 before the shrewd prime minister Needless to say, the good guys and legend into an easy-to-follow is packed into a well-scripted in the supporting role as the release made enough money to get a sequel filmed the and strategist turns the disease win, thus ensuring the survival structure that balances action narrative that will not overwhelm indecisive Sun. following year. Starts tomorrow.